PAOCC: 1,698 illegal POGO workers deported since May 2023

 Operatives of PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group process seized computers and cellphones used for alleged illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming operation in Almanza Uno in Las Pinas City. Handout photo/file 

The government has deported a total of 1,698 illegal POGO workers since May 4, 2023 as it continues to crack down on POGO operations, the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission said Friday.   

PAOCC spokesperson Dr. Winston Casio released the figures after some 27 Chinese nationals caught working for the illegal POGO hubs in Bamban, Tarlac, and Porac, Pampanga were recently deported by Philippine authorities.

“Initially, there were 33 of them po kaya lang 27 lamang ang nakasakay sapagka’t iyong anim ay mayroon palang mga hold departure order sa kanila sa iba’t ibang kasong criminal kaya hindi po sila nakasakay. At opo, lahat sila ay mga Chinese nationals,” Casio said.

The deported foreign nationals are blacklisted from the Philippines, the official said.

DICT sees fewer text scams with POGO ban

 “Well, ang lahat po ng mga nahuhuling mga iligal na mga POGO workers, lahat sila ay naka-blacklist, so they won’t be able to come back to the country anymore. Pero iyong iba naman na mga legal workers doon sa mga legal na mga IGL na dahan-dahang nagsasara, kung wala po silang mga kaso, they will not be blacklisted in coming back to country, unless a policy will be released by the national government na lahat ng mga galing sa mga IGL (Internet Gaming Licensees), the former POGOs, will be blacklisted. But as of now, ang mga nahuhuli lamang sa iligal ang naba-blacklist so far,” he explained.

Casio said Philippine authorities are confident that foreign workers of legitimate IGLs will soon be repatriated back to their countries, following the President’s order to ban all POGO operations. 

According to government data, there are some 20,000 foreign workers of IGLs currently in the Philippines.

“Ngayon, the challenge that we would face would be iyong mga nasa iligal na mga IGLs or iyong mga iligal na mga POGO. Iyan po, sa pakikipagtulungan ng PAOCC sa iba’t ibang ahensiya ng gobyerno – DILG through Secretary Benhur Abalos; PNP, NBI; AMLC, BI, ganiyan – we’re fairly confident that we would be able to deport, if not all, at least a good number of them,” he said.

BI warns POGO owners, workers will be deported next year 

Casio also expressed confidence that local government units will step up and help national authorities in eliminating illegal POGOs in their localities.

“In fact, nababasa ko sa diyaryo ay sunud-sunod na rin naman ang pag-iikot ng mga LGUs. Nakita ko sa Mandaue, sa Cebu. Nakita ko dito sa Pampanga, sunud-sunod iyong kanilang pag-iikot. So kumpiyansa po tayo na masusunod natin iyong direktiba ng Presidente,” the official said.

“Well, iyong una nga, iyong nga, iyong strategy natin una is LGU-centered po tayo. So, sa pakikipagtulungan natin sa Kongreso, sa DILG—kasi iyong DILG, through Task Force SKIMMER, itinayo po iyan ni DILG Secretary Benhur Abalos at ang nangunguna po diyan ay si PNP Lt. Gen. Michael Dubria. Si Gen. Dubria po ang nangunguna dito sa Task Force SKIMMER, at sila naman po ay nakikipagtulungan na sa mga LGUs,” he added.

27 Chinese na sangkot sa POGO, idineport na 

 “So, kami po talaga ay kumpiyansa na malaking porsiyento doon sa ibinigay nating listahan ang mawawala. Pero siyempre, just like any other law enforcement problem, hindi naman po iyan siguro natin kakayanin na one hundred percent. Pero iyong mga matitira diyan naman, since fairly identified naman na po sila, kakayanin na po natin iyon na dahan-dahan sila na ma-operate.”